What Will Happen At My PLO Meeting?

In his second blog on the PLO process, Matt Light, one of our trainee solicitors breaks down what you can expect at your PLO meeting….

What Has Happened Before The Meeting?

In my last blog I set out the steps before the PLO meeting, like instructing your solicitor and having a discussion with them in advance about your letter. They will be at the meeting and can say things there on your behalf.

Remember, the meeting is to address the concerns for children and to stop them from escalating and the matter going to court.

Where Will It Be Held?

Your PLO letter will have the date, time and venue so that you know where to go.

Currently, due to the coronavirus pandemic, PLO meetings are held remotely using applications like Microsoft Teams or Skype.
Check how the meeting will be held and have the relevant app installed if you can.

How Long Will It Take?

Usually the PLO meeting will take about an hour, although it is not uncommon for them to overrun. This is enough time for the social work team to outline the concerns and for you to respond and to discuss with your lawyer.

Who Else Will Be There?

There will be at least five people at the PLO meeting including you. They are:
1. You.
2. Your lawyer.
3. Any other parent or anyone who has parental responsibility the children.
4. Their lawyer.
5. The social work team manager.
6. The social worker.
7. Their lawyer.

What Will They Say?

The team manager will chair. That means that they are in charge of the structure so that everyone at the PLO meeting can speak and be heard.

If the situation is serious then they will say that court proceedings are going to be issue and then the meeting with end.

Otherwise, the social worker will begin by discussing the concerns they have about the children.

You will be given the chance to reply with your views the concerns. Some people prefer their lawyer to mostly speak for them.

You will have talked to yours about what you prefer before the meeting.

I’ve Been Told About A “Written Agreement”– What’s That?

The PLO meeting is likely to end in with Social Services telling you what they want you to do next. These steps will be set down in writing, and they will ask you to sign it to show that you agree to them.

It is important to go through it with your layer before signing. There will be some time allocated to you in private with your lawyer to do it. You will the go back into the meeting and your lawyer can suggest changes to it before you sign.

What Happens Next?

At the end of the PLO meeting, if proceedings aren’t going to be issued, then there will be a date for a “PLO review meeting.”
My next blog in this series will talk you though the post-meeting next steps.

Matthew Light
December 2020